It’s easy to get all het-up over MPs’ expense claims, but it is worth remembering that some of this is here so that it’s possible for anyone to be an MP, no matter how much money they have, which is a laudable aim.

There’s no doubt it is a privilege that has been abused; there have been reports of MPs buying second properties a few minutes away from where they already live, reports of them buying properties that are just as far from Parliament as their main residence, etcetera. Those should clearly be stopped and the people in question censured for behaving in that manner.